A Delhi court Tuesday acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, triggering anguished protests and even some tears outside the court complex.

District and Sessions Judge J R Aryan acquitted Kumar while convicting five others -Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councillor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal.The case deals with the death of five Sikhs-- Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh-- who were members of the same family and were killed by the mob in Delhi Cant's Raj Nagar area. The case against Kumar was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by Justice GT Nanavati Commission.

Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were held guilty for the offence of murder under section 302 (murder) of the IPC which entails death penalty as maximum punishment while Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted for the offence of rioting only.

Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were ordered to be taken into judicial custody by the court.Sajjan Kumar had faced a possible death sentence if he had been convicted of inciting a mob in the capital to kill a family of Sikhs in the violence that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. More than 3,000 Sikhs were killed during the riots.

As protests broke out outside, inside the court, so deep was the resentment over Kumar 's acquittal that a shoe was thrown at District Judge J.R. Aryan after he pronounced his verdict.

The order led to furore amongst members of the Sikh community who were hopeful that Sajjan Kumar would be brought to justice. Slogans against the Congress were heard and some people tried to climb over barricades and storm the complex.Protesters had gathered in big numbers in the court complex and after Kumar's acquittal, complainant Jagdish Kaur sat on protest inside the courtroom saying she would not leave until justice is done.

"Congress is a party of murderers, Though we respect the court, we are sad about this judgment. We never thought he would be acquitted," an angry Sikh said.

Sajjan Kumar was facing trial along with Balwan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal, Kishan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community.

Kumar, a former Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, still faces trial in another 1984 rioting case. In a third case, Delhi Police has filed a closure report, saying there was no evidence against Kumar to implicate him.